Refrigerating apparatus.



B. S. McCLELLAN.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Me. 31. 1915. RENEWED OCT. 6.1917. L25%519c Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

, barrio sac. marble,

BENJAMIN S. MCGLELLAN,

9F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 31, 1915, Serial No. 89,705. Renewed October 6, 1917. Serial No; 195,203.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l. BENJAMIN S. MCCLEL- Lama citizen of the United States, residing in'(hicago, in the county of (00k and State I of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the following is a speclficatien. i

'lheprincipal objects of the inventionare to provide a simple. economical and efficient refrigerating apparatus comprlsing unproved means for separating oil from a re frigeratingr agent or volatile fluid, such as fluid anunonia; in such a manner as to render the volatile fluid as completely free from oil as possible: and to enable the volatile fluid or ammonia to be used over and over again repmitedly as a. refrigerating agent in a condition as free from oil as possible, and the oil to be used over and over again for the purpose of lubrication. Matter herein described and disclosed, but not claimed, will, be found described and claimed in an appli-/ cation. Serial No. 163.314. filed by me and iii my name in the United StatesPatent, ()lfice April 19, 1917, and allowed April 25, 1917,

' for an improven'ient in refrigerating apparatus, and oil separator and condenser mechanism therefor, to which reference is hereby I made.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from an examination of the f llowing description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations and parts and in the process of separating Oil from fluid anm'ionia, herein described and claimed.

In the accom 'mnying drawings,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and improvements and adapted to be used in the practice of my improved process of separating oil from a volatile fluid, orrefrigerating fluid;

Fig. 2, a detail View in central vertical section of a condenser, provided with means for separating oil from volatile fluid within the. condensing chamber, in accordance with my invention and improvements, and

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view in central vertical section of my improved expansion valve mechanism'provided with an oil receptacle and adapted to enable the oil to be separated from the volatile fluid at the in slant of expansion of the volatile fluid into gaseous form. i

i In constructing a refrigerating apparatus in accordance with my invention and im provements, I provide a compressor or pump 1, having a piston or compression chamber 2, and. a crank and pitman-containing chamber or easing 3 mounted upon a suitable support, such as a frame 4, which may be of any desired ordinary, well-known or suitable form. An expansion coil or refrigerating coil 5 is arranged in a suitable coil-containing casing or receptacle 6, adapted to form a liquidcontaining chamber? for containing liquid, such as brine, to be cooled. An outlet or return pipe 8 communicates with the discharge end of the expansion coil and forms a passage which communicates with the inlet and interior of the compressiion chamleer 2.

The piston chamber or compression chamher 2 of the compressor is provided with an outlet pipe or passage 9 leading from the compression side or high pressure side of said chamber, and communicating with the interior of a condensing chamber 10 formed within the inner condenser casing 1 A very desirable improved form of condenser is shown in Figs. 1 and'2 of the drawings and comprises a cylindrical outer casing 11 and an inner casin havin referabl cylindrical side walls of less diameter in eross-section than the outer casing 11, and being thus adapted to provide an annular space 13 between the inner easing walls 12 and the outer casing wall 11 for containing a coolingvliquid. The upper extremity of the hollow inner casing 12 is closed by means of a head or end member 14, and the lower extremity of said casing is closed by means of a similar lower head or end member 15. The upper extremity of the hollow outer casing is closed by an upper outer head or casing member 16, and the lower extremity of said outer casing is closed by means of a similar lower head or outer bottom easing member 17. (See Fig. 2.)

The interior space or condensing chamber 10. which is inclosed by the inner casing 12 has a gas inlet 9 with which the pipe 9 from the compression chamber of the compressor communicates and is adapted to contain a volatile fluid, such as liquid ammonia,

and is provided with a v ile liquid outlet passage leading from said .aterior condensing chamber 10 and communicating with the receiving port or liquid containing chamber 18of'a pressure-controlled expansion valve mechanism 19. The volatile fluid or ammonia is subjected'to pressure and to the action of a cooling agent while in the condensing chamber 10, the pressure being applied by the operation of the compressor thus causing a change of state of said fluid and con-. densing and converting the same from aseous to liquid form. A liquid receptac e or tank 27 may be interposed between the condenser and the expansion valve and form a part of said passage. Said passage or conduit, when constructed as shown in the drawings is adapted to permit the escape 'of liquid ammonia and to prevent the escape of gas and oil through said passage, andcomprises an interior pipe, or tube portion 20, which projects upwardly on the inside of the condensing chamber 10 from the bottom of said chamber, and has a depending upper pipe, tube or cap portion 21,- which may be in the form of a downwardly extending elbow or pipe portion. The curved tube or inner conduit member comprising the parts 20, 21', .and 23, is thus adapted to provide a liquid outlet passage and to cause a liquid seal for such passage to be formed by the liquid ammonia contained in the condensing chamber and filling the mouth or bottom opening 22 of the depending pipe or cap portion 21. The liquid anunoniu is thus pcrmittcd to pass out through the liquid conduit or, outlet thus formed, and it will be readily seen that. the escape of volatile fluid in gaseous form is prerentwl by the liquid seal or sealed wolatilo liquidoutlct passage thus provided,

gal 1d that the oil.the upper surface of which is at all times below the level of the openmg 22, and below the volatile liquid or hquid. ammonia in said chzuuher,-will he arrested and retained within thechamhcr 1O avlule the liquid ammonia is permitted to The oil thus separated from and escape. collected beneath the volatile fluid or an monia in said clnunbcr is in condition to be drawn oft, separately from the volatile fluid, and returned to the crank casing of the compressor for use as'a lubricant.

A pipe 26, secured to the bottom ol the K inner casing 12. forms a passage which leads from the interior tubular portion 20 and curved or sinuous liquid-sealed outlet pas- "c, abo'vc ascribed, into pipe 29, or which n v c: 'nunicate with the interior of a 4 which is proe-d wi a an outlet pipe 28 lava-Y from mtainiug tank 27' to in, :-cei\'- e or chamber 18 of the expansion above mentioned.

ed in threaded engagement with the boss 67 in position to inclose the upper open end of the coil 66, said cap or bushing 68 being provided with a passage 69 therethrough, and having an upper threaded end portion 70 in threaded engagement with the head 16 of the outer casing 11. The bushing or cap 68 thus forms a passage which connects or communicates with the passage formed by the water supply pipe 65, and the interior of the coil 66 The lower or discharge end of the coil 66 is, by preference, mounted in position to extend through the axial opening in the bottom head 15 of the inner cusing 12, into which the end of the coil is tightly fitted in such position that the open bottom end of the coil communicates with the space or water jacket compartment 13 which entirely surrounds the inner casing 12 on all sides, and at top and bottom: said space being adapted to contain cooling water, which entirely surrounds the inner cusing 12. The water containing coil 66 is entirely surrounded by the casing 12, and by the volatile fluid or fluid ammonia under pressure contained in the chamber 12. The volatile fluid is thus subjected to the action of a cooling agent on both the inside andoutside of the chamber 10.

A water pipe or conduit 71 has its upper extremity closely fitted into an opening in the head 16 through which it extends, so as to form a water outlet passage leading from the interior or water containing space 13 within the outer casing 11 of the condenser. and which space surrounds the inner chamber 10; the opposite extremity of said pipe 71 being connected with the outer casing or water jacket of the compressor cylinder 2. and adapted to communicate'with the interior or water containing space of such water jacket. 1

A. water outlet pipe 72 is connected with the outlet opening of the water jacket of the compressor cylinder 2, and forms a passage which, by preference. comn'nmicutcs with the interior of a piston casing 73. in which is mounted a reciprocating piston 74 for operating an electric switch 75. (See Fig. 1). The piston 74 is opcratively connected with 5hr electric switch 75 by means of suitable lover mechanism 76 and spring mechanisu'l 77 adapted to operate the electric switch 75 for controlling the supply of electric current 1,254,519 tell;

to drive the electric motor. by means of which the compressor is operated.

The electric motor 77 is operatively connected with the compressor, alr ady described, by means of a belt-pulley 78 on the driving shaft 79 of the motor, and a belt 80 operatively eonneced with said belt pulley and with the driving wheel 81 of the compressor.

The motor operatively connected with an electric circuit or source of suppl: and

with. the switch operating mechanism 'lor automatically opening and closing suchelec- ,tric circuit, by means of an electric wire 82 connected with a brush 83 of a dynamo 84, and with one of the. poles 85 of the motor and an electric wire 86 connected with the opposite pole 87 ot' the motor, and with the (ontacts R6 of the knitc-switch 75. which contacts are adapted to be engaged by and to be released from engagement or contact with/the arms of said knife-s itch 75. The arms otthc switch are connected or in contact. with fuses 89. and a wire is connected ith the fuses 89 and with a brush of the dynamo 84.

The switch and switch-operatingr mechanism employed tor the above mentioned purposes is described. illustrated and claimed in a pending application. Serial No. 30,112, tiled May 24, 1915. for electric switches, &c., and it is therefore not deemed necessary or desirable to further describe or illust ate the 4 same herein,

My improved expansion valve mechanism "19 comprises in its construction an upper valve casinp, portion 29. and a lower valve casing portion 30, which are clamped or socured together by means of beaded bolts 81 and nuts 32 in threaded engagement with said securing b'olts, or by other suitable securing means.

The lower casing member 30 has an inner hollow core or central casing portion 33. the upper extremity of which is adapted to form a valve seat, and is provided with a vertical axial openinp 34 therein inwhich is slidably mounted the upright. stem ot' a fluid pres sure controlled spring pressed movable valve member 36. The hollow inner casing or wall portion projects upward within and is, by pret'm-ence entirely surrounded by an ixpansion chamber 37, having a lower annular oil-containing portion or oil reservoir portion 38 located below the level oi the openings 39 lor permitting the passage of volatile fluid or ammonia from said expan sion chamber 37 to the expansion coil or coils. Said annular lower oil-containing portion or oil reservoir surrounds the valve seat or inner casing portion 33 below the level of theinlet port'or ports 43 in the periphery of the valve stem and leading into chamber 37 from an axial passage 41 having one or more lateral bottom inlet openings 42 tile fluid or fluid ammonia admitted through the small openings 42 in the valve-stem is strained and the particles of oil and volatile refrigerating fluid are separated as they pass in minute streams or jets and are discharged into. the expansion chamber 37'trom the small passages ll, 42 and 43 in the valvestem. The separation of the oil particles l'rom the particles of the ammonia or volatile. fluid takes place at the moment. when a portion of the-latter expands and is cooled and converted from liquid into gaseous form in the expansion chamber of the valve casing. The volatile fluid and oil are thus cooled in said expansion chamber while said materials are in small particles or in a finely divided condition after passing through the minute passages or openings in the valve mechanism. The cooled volatile fluid is permitted to pass into and across the unbridged space formed by the annular chamber 37, andthe particles of oil are arrested and caused to drop or run down into the lower oil-containng portion 38 of the chamber 37, so as to be onduc ed from said chamber back into the crank case. 3 of the compmssor through the pipe 63 when the cock 64 is opened. I

A diapl'n'agm 44, which is made. by preterencc. ot' flexible material, is mounted inposition to extend between the upper portion 45 of the. valve member 36 already described, and a cap or piston member 46. A relatively light compressible spring 47 encircles the valve-stem ol' the. valve member flit and has its bottom extremity in engagement with the core 323, and its upper cxtremity in engagement with said valve mem be: 3t). and adapted to tend to press said valve member upward, or in the direction of valve closing position. A. relatively heavy compressible spring 48 is mounted between an upper spring-engaging cap 4 and the cap it already described. and is adapted to press the latter, and also the valve diaphragm 44 and movable valve member 36 downward. or in a direction which will cause. the inlet openings 42 in the \"alve-stem'35 to be opened by being thus moved downwm'd o away from the bottom of the valvestemencircling: part 4-3, to admit volatile fluid oammonia into said openings 42, and into the chamber 37 when the fluid pressure in said chamber is reduced suiiiciently to permit the action of the spring 48 to operate the valve-stem or movable valve member.

Means for regulating the tension of the spring 48 is provided, which may be in the form of a screw-rod 50, which is mounted in threaded engagement with the upper valve casing portion 29, and has its lower end in operative engagement with the upper cap 49. so as to resist the upward movement of said cap as the latter is pressed upward against the tension of said spring 48.

The flexible diaphragm 44 is clamped between the upper valve easing member 29 and the lowervalve casing member 30, and is adapted to form a gas proof and liquid proof connection between said casing members and between the expansion chamber 37 and the' spring-containing compartment 51.

The passage of volatile refrigerating fluid Into the expansion chamber 37 and expan sion coil is automatically controlled by the expansion valve mechanism. so as to increase in quantity or vohune proportionately as the pressure decreases, and decrease proportionately as the pressure increases in said chamber and coil. thus preventing the flooding of the expansion coil, or the admission of ammonia in liquid form. or oil thereto, and preventing the building up of an excessive or dangerous ressure in the compressor or in any of tie refrigerating fluid passages.

A packing of compressible packing material of any ordinary or well-known form, is provided and secured in position around the upper portion of the threaded rod 50 by means of a packing gland 53 and cap 5% or similar element.

A pipe 55 leads from the corresponding outlct.39 in the upper portion of the expansion chamber 37, (see Figs. 1 and 3), and is connected and communicates with the interior and upper portion of the expansion coil already described, the discharge end or bottom extremityof said coil 5 being connected and adapted to communicate with the receiving ide and interior of the compressor or piston chamber by means of the pipe 8, already described. It is obvious that there may be as many pipes 55 and as many expansion coils as may be desired. I

The expansion coil 5 and the liquid containing tank 6, in which the coil is located,

desired to open and her or casing 3 of the compressor is adapted to contain. and in practice 15 provided with a quantity of lubricating oil for lubricating the moving parts of the compressor, particularly the crank and pitman connections and the piston mechanism, all of which may be of anv desired ordinary and well-known form. as already suggested; and an oil con" duit, consisting of a pipe or tube (31, leads from the bottom of the interior condensing chamber 10 of the condenser, and communicates with 'the interior of the crank containing space. 0.1 crank casing 3 of the com pressor, and is'provided with a cock 2 for opening and closing the passage formed by said pipe. The ammonia orrefrigerating fluid which is underpressure in the condensing chamber, and a portion of which fluid is in gaseous form, tends to force oil from the bottom of said chamber into the crank casing 3 or main oil reservoir, when the cock 6-2 is open.

An oil conduit in the form ofa pipe 63 leads from the lower annular oil-containing portion 38 of the expansion chamber 37 in the expansion valve casing already described, and communicates with the interior of the crank-containing chamber or crank casing 25 of the compressor, and may be connected with the pipe 61. A cock 64, which may be of the same form as cock 62, or of any suit able ordinary and well known formv adapted to open and close the passage formed by the pipe 63, is connected with said last mentioned pipe at a point somewhat below the level of the bottom portion 38 of the expansion chamber 37. The annular bottom ortion 38 of said expansion chamber and tie portion of the pipe G3 above the cock (H are thus adapt-- ed to form an oil receptacle. The hollow inner casing portion which forms the valve Seat for the pressure-controlled movable valve member'36, and the stem of said valve member, are thus surrounded by the annular portion of the oil reservoir or oil receptacle thus formed; and the oil receptacle and said pipe 63 are adapted to enable oil arrested in the oil reservoir portion 38 of the mnsion chamber above described, to be forced from said expansion chamber by the action of fluid pressure within said chamber and connected passages, directly into the main oil reserv a formed by the crank casing 3. and into position to be used in said crank casing, for lubricating purposes.

nssaaio The condenser, constructed as above described, is, by preference so mounted with relation to the oil-containing chamber formed by the crank casing 3 of the compressor, that the liquid-containing portion of the condensing chamber and the top surface of the refrigerating fluid in liquid form contained in the condensing chamber will be normally below the level oi the point at which the oil pipe 61 leading from the condensing chamber 10 communicates with the interior of the crank casing. And the point at which the pipe 61 communicates with the interior of the condensing chamber 10 is below the level of said point of communication oi the pipe 61 with the crank casing, and below the level of the liquid-sealed opening 22 or refrigerating fluid outlet of the condensing chamber;

The crank casing is of course suitably packed in the ordinary n'ianner, s'o to prevent leakage of fluid therefrom. And a pipe 91 leads from the interior of the crank easing at a point above the normal level of any oil to be contained,therein, and communicates with the piston chamber, and has a valve 92. Pressure may thus be reduced by pumping ammonia through pipe 91.

In theoperation of the refrigerating ap paratus above described, a suitable quantity oi volatile refrigerating fluid, such as liquid ammonia, is provided and introduced into the connected rei'rigeratingfiuid-containing compartments and passages of the apps ratus; and the oil required for lubricating the moving parts of the compressor, including the piston, and pitman and cranl; mechanism, is introduced into the crank casing of the compressor. In practice a portion of? the lubricating oil becomes intermixed with the volatile refrigerating fluid or ammonia, in the compression chamber. It is well known that, unless separated from the ammonia or refrigerating fluid, the oil will pass with the refrigerating fluid into and through the condenser, the expansion valve mechanism, the expansion coil, and the conduits which connect said devices and which. 3 1

with the compression chamber of the cent pressor, all form a continuous or endles vol, atile-ret'ri gcrati ng-li ui d containing pas age, when the expansion valve mechanism is in passage-opening position and the apparatus is 1n operation. mitted would tend to coat the inner walls of the expansionv coil, and to produce a detrimental ell'ect, in that the oil would tend to Lubricating oil thus adtil crating fluid is in a gaseous state and whl e the Oll intermixed therewith is partly or (lensing chamber while the volatile refriguiholly in the form of a vapor. The mixture I comprising volatile refrigerating fluid in a gaseous state, and ml 15 introduced into the condensing chamber under pressure, and

while in the condensing chamber is simultaneously subjected to pressure suliicient to cause a change of state oi the volatile reirigerating fluid from that of a gas to that of a liquid-and to the action of a cooling medium or agent. The cooling medium is by preference in the form of a current of water under pressure passing through the water passage or passages of the condenser.

The volatile refrigerating lluid -hus changed from a gaseous to a liquid state is forced or caused to pass, in a liquid state, from the condensing chamber into the liquidreceiving space or chamber 18 of the expansion valve device 19, and through the restricted passage or passages controlled by the movable valve member 36 of. the expansion expansion valve casing above described.

Simultaneously Withv and during the transition or change and expansion of the said portion oi the volatile refrigerating fluid from a liquid to a gaseous state, and while the temperature of the refrigerating lluid is becoming lower, such particles of oil as re:

main intermixed with the volatile refrig crating fluid thus expanding or undergoing a change of state, are rapidly cooled and rcndered more dense or hardened, and are separated from the volatile refrigerating liuid and arrested within the oil reservoir or lower portion of the expansion chamber. The density of the particles-oi oil being increased by thus, cooling or lowering the temperature of the mixture or lluid in which the oil is contained, the oil particles, being heavier,

than the adjacent particles of volatile refrigerating fluid, are enabled to flow or fall downward into the lower portion of the ex pansion chamber oi the expansion valve device and become separated from the volatile refrigerating fluid; and the volatile refrigerating fluid, a portion oi which is in gaseous form, is permitted-to pass over the oil and across the unobstructed and uubridgcd space formed by the expansion chamber in the lower portion of which the oil is arrested,

lli) and to the expansion coil. The) gas or volatile refrigerating fluid is free from oil and in condition to be used over and over again.

controlled connecting passage adapted to connect said liquid inlet passage and said expansion chamber, an oil-containing reservoir extending below the level of the volatile fluid outlet passage and communicating with the expansion chamber, said oil-containing reservolr being located between said valve-controlled connecting passage and the expansion coil, and an oil outlet passage communicating with said oil-containing-reservoir.

2. Ina refrigerating apparatus of the class described, the combination of an expansion coil, a valve casing having a liquid ammonia inlet passage adapted to communicate with a source of liquid ammonia supply, and-having an'expansion chamber provided with an ammonia outlet passage communicating with the expansion coil, said casing having a partition portion extending between said liquid inlet passage and said expansion chamber and provided with an opening for receiving a movable valve member, a movable valve member mounted in said opening and provided with a fluid passage adapted to be controlled by the movement of said movable valve member, for connecting said inlet passage and said expansion chamber, said expansion chamber having a lower oil-containlng reservoir portion extending below the level of said outlet passage and communicating with the volatile-fluid-containing portion of the expansion chamber at a point between the valve-controlled-connecting passage and the expansion coil, and means for permitting the removal of oil from the oil reservoir.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, the combination of an expansion coil, a valve casing having a liquid ammonia inlet passage, an expansion chamber having an oil reservoir and provided with an ammonia outlet passage adapted to communicate with the expansion coil, said casinghaving a partition portion intermediate said liquid inlet passage and said expansion chamber and provided with an opening for receiving a movable valve member, a movable valve member mounted in said opening and provided with a res tiioted fluid passage adapted to be controlled by the movement of said movable valve memher, and forming a connection between the liquid inlet passage and the 7 expansion chamber when the movable valve member is in passage opening position, automatic pressurecontrolled mechanism operatively connected with the movable valve member, for automatically operating the same, means for introducing liquid ammonia into said inlet passage, and means for permitting the removal of oil from the oil reservoir.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, the combination of a con1- pressor having a compressor chamber, and provided with an oil reservoir adapted to contain oil for lubricating the compressor mechanism, an expansion valve casing having a liquid inlet passage, and provided with an expansion chamber having a volatile fluid outlet passage adapted to communicate with an expansion coil, said ex pansion chamber of the valve casing having a lower oil-containing reservoir portion located below the level of said outlet sage and adapted to contain particles of oil separated from volatile fluid in said expansion chamber, a condenser having a condensing chamber provided with a volatile fluid inlet passage communicating with the compression chamber of the compressor, and having a liquid outlet passage communicat ing with the liquid inlet passage of said valve casing, an expansion coil connected with the volatile fluid outlet passage of the expansion chamber of the expansion valve casing, and havin a return passage communicating with t e'compression chamber of the compressor, pressurecontrolled valve mechanism provided with a valve controlled connecting passage adapted to communicate with the liquid inlet passage in the valve casing, and with the expansion chamber, and means for permitting the removal of oil from the oil-containing reservoir portion of said expansion chamber.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, the combination of a compressor having a compressor chamber, and provided with an oil reservoir adapted to contain oil for lubricating the compressor mechanism, an expansion valve casing having a volatile liquid inlet passage, and provided with an expansion chamber having a volatile fluid outlet passage adapted to communicate with an expansion coil, said ex pansion chamber of the valve casing having a lower oil-containing reservoir ortion located below the level of said outlet passage and adapted to contain particles of Oil. separated from volatile fluid in said expansion chamber, a condenser having a condensing sion chamber of the compressor, andhaving a 1i uid outlet passage communicating with the iquid inlet passage of said valve casing, 'an expansion coil connected with the volatile fluid outlet passage of :the expansion chamber of the expansion valve casing, and having a return passage communicating mm imi W with the compression chamber of the (50mp resso-r, pressurewonti'olied valve mechanism provided with a yalve-cnntmiled com.

nesting passage adapted to communicate with the liquid inlet passage in the alve casing, and? with "the expansion chamber, and an oil Conduit forming an oil outlet massage leading from the oii..-coiitaining v BENJAMHI S. 1 MGCLELLAN. Witnesses HARRY IRWIN CROMEE? W. HARDING. 

